Anyone ever watch the show Hoarders? Centered around people who “hoard” items, this show takes you on a journey inside the mayhem that these people live in. While shocking, it’s always sad because usually the hoarder had a breaking point in their lives that MADE them hold on to material things. Sometimes it’s the death of a loved one, feeling abandoned after their kids move away or divorce.

Anyway – I have a girlfriend who has me thisclose to calling Hoarders on her. She hasn’t had any recent traumatic events in her life but she hoards more makeup than anyone I know. She has a collection of more than 200 blushes that she doesn’t even use because she says they are “too pretty to touch”. That’s right. 200 perfect blushes that have never touched her cheeks. When I showed her these new Milani Illuminatizing Powders, she shrieked and told me she couldn’t wait to add these to her “Too Pretty To Touch” collection.

Crazy, right? Don’t worry. Said friend doesn’t mind that I put her story on blast. She assures me that there are probably hundreds of beauty hoarders out there. Eeek!

Beauty hoarder or not, if you’re a Milani fan, you’re going to love these. Milani is doin’ it BIG this season girlfriends and if you didn’t know, you better ask somebody. These Illuminating Face Powders are ah-mazing.

Gorgeous, right?

These babies can be used as a highlighter, bronzer or blush. Whatever fits your fancy.

First up is Amber Nectar…

Combining a gold finish with a touch of rose, Amber Nectar is the perfect combination of her other two siblings. She’s got a few micro-sparkles goin’ and while she may be a little too cool for my complexion but I’m sure other gals can rock Am Nec beautifully.

Beauty’s Touch is my favorite…

If you are taking baby steps into wearing blushes and want to wear something with a little color, this is the route to go. Beauty’s Touch’s golden notes are toned down a bit on the cheeks and what you’re left with is a shimmery pink finish.

Swatches….

(L-R) Amber Nectar, Beauty’s Touch, Hermosa Rose

And then there’s Hermosa Rose.

Despite the “rose” in the name, I think AR has more gold in it than anything else. In fact, it’s the closest powder to a true bronzer. That said, after Beauty’s Touch, it’s my favorite.

Pro’s:
-Beautiful and subtle shimmer.
-Perfect for blush beginners. It gives enough coverage without being too intimidating.
-A little goes a long way.
-The packaging. How beautiful are those flowers?
-Even with multiple uses, the flowers stick around. Yay!

Con’s:
-May be tricky to apply. Because it’s so sheer, you may actually have on more than you think. I found the best way to apply this was with a skunk/stipling brush.
-If you aren’t a fan of gold shimmers, you may not like these because all 3 of these are gold based.
-It isn’t very long-lasting. After about 5 hours, my cheeks weren’t as golden as they were when I first applied.

Hermosa Rose on my cheeks…

So yep, while these are subtle, I still love the glow that they give my cheekies. Some days I don’t feel like putting a ton of color on my cheeks, so these are absolutely fantastic. They are in drugstores now for about $8.99 and online for $9.49.

Okay, quick crazy story about NIVEA. And I do mean quick. For the longest I would call Nivea (pronounced Niv-E-ya) Na-vay-ya. And I was so obsessed with how it sounded, that I promised myself that I would name my first child Nivea. Of course I made this declaration when I was like…14.

Wait – so I was the only teen who already had their babies’ names picked out? Come on, y’all. Confess it up. I knowwww I wasn’t the only one. 8) For the record, I have since dropped that name for a potential Clumps kid. I do have other names picked out though. Bahahaaa!

Anywhoovers, good ole’ NIVEA has some new goodies for us skincare lovers and I just had to share them with you.

I’ve got super sensitive skin and so I stick to using a strict regimen of preservative-free skincare products but every now and then I like to review the popular brands of the world. Let’s check out the babies of the bunch first.

These lippes are pretty, uh? NIVEA A Kiss of Vitamin Swirl is packed with antioxidant-rich fruit extracts. It has a subtle hint of color. So subtle that if your lips are pigmented you probably wouldn’t notice it. The blue one (Kiss of Mint & Minerals) has organic shea butter and jojoba butter in it. Since it’s “mint”, you’re going to get that tingly mint feeling that you either really love or really hate. I don’t mind it. Aside from tasting a little funny, I dug these lip balms. Vitamin Swirl had a faint fruity scent and smell and Kiss of Mint & Minerals is minty. They don’t last forever but while they are on the lips, they keep the lippies moisturized. These babies retail for $2.99.

Next up is NIVEA’s Touch of Renewal Lathering Body Scrub with HYRDRA IQ.

I formally made the switch to handmade bar soaps but every now and then I get the urge to use a bodywash. It’s an exfoliating body wash that has a thick lather. I love how it feels but the fragrance is pretty strong. Almost TOO strong. It has a nice and clean smell but it was overpowering and just a bit too much for moi.

Still, if you’re in the perfect for a luscious body wash that polishes the skin to a smooth finish, you’ll love this one. It goes for $5.99.

And theeeeen there’s NIVEA’s Extended Moisture Daily Lotion.

Okay remember – just because the packaging says the lotion will last for 48 hours doesn’t mean you HAVE to wear it for 48 hours. 😉 Even so, I love how this lotion feels. It isn’t greasy or watery like some drugstore lotions can be. It sinks into the skin nicely without a filmy finish and does a darn good job at bustin’ ash.

Plus, it doesn’t have a loud fragrance like its brother, the body wash. It goes for $7.99.

You can grab all of these goodies at CVS Pharmacy. CVS so rocks, yo. Have you tried anything from NIVEA lately?

My neighbors probably think I’m weird. I get in all kinds of positions to take shots of beauty products outside. I get into some kind of zone yo.

And I am rarely friendly when I’m in the “zone”. Which is sad because the older lady who lives across from me always manages to venture outside when I’ve got my derrière aimed at the sky to snap shots of beauty stuffs.

She’ll ask what a blog is. She questions why beauty products have gone up in price since 1962. And bless her heart, but when I’m racing against daylight, I have very little time to answer these questions.

But I chit chat with her anyway. Because one day I’ll be a 70-somethin’ year old lady and I’ll want people to entertain my questions too. And I think I read somewhere that for every second you spend being nice to the elderly, another year gets added to your life. Or something like that. Anyway – photographing this bottle of NARS Removing Water was fun! Who knew a bottle of what looks to be water could look so cool?

Have y’all seen this in Sephora yet? It launched last month and it has become a staple in my makeup removing routine. This fragrance-free and oil-free makeup remover also doubles as a toner. With cooling cucumber and refreshing chamomile, this remover does a darn good job at keeping the skin hydrated.

Oh. And it cleans thoroughly too. Sometimes using a face cleanser isn’t enough so it’s good to know I’m removing everythiiiiing.

Pro’s
-It’s fragrance-free. A total win for me.
-Great for those with drier skin. It is hydrating and feels super refreshing.
-Non-irrittating. Yay for those of us with acne!
-I like that there’s a little hole in the packaging. This helps with distribution. That way you won’t end up using TOO much.

Con’s
-A bit pricey at $28. The good news is it’ll last last for quite some time.
-Doesn’t remove eye makeup. This is best for cleaning the skin.

Do you need this? If you’re like me and find that your cleanser doesn’t do the best job at removing your concealer, foundation and blush, you’ll love this. Plus it’s NARS. Don’t they do everything beautifully?

Whatcha think? Gonna stick with your ole’ trusty makeup remover or would you give this a whirl?

Darliiiiiings, are you having a wonderful Valentine’s Day? Please say yes. I get it. It’s a commercialized holiday that gets people to spend their money. Every day should Valentine’s Day. Yeah yeah, I get it. But come ooooon, what’s not to love about…love?

And speaking of love….

It’s a blinged out jar of Vaseline? How cute is this? Right?! Soooooo cute.

I’ve been using Vaseline since ‘back in the day, yo. Mama Clumps had us slathered in this stuff. And I still use it for my feet and lips. In fact, NOTHING can bust up ash like Vaseline can. It is the greatest. And call me nuts but me thinks every beauty product should be donned in Swarovski crystals. I’m just sayin’. Of course that would drive up the cost of beauty goodies. This tiny jar retails for $62. I know. I know.

Buuuuut, if you’re feeling lucky, head on over to Vaseline’s Facebook page and see if you can snag one of these jars in their giveaway. They are only giving 100 away today!

And if could care less about the blinged out jar, you can always grab a regular ole’ one for $1.99 from Target or Walmart.

I’m no fan of glitter particles in my body products but the good news is, after one wash, this dust of glitter washes away. What’s left is a perfectly scented bar of soap that will leave your guests going “OMG, where can I get one of those?”

Scent-wise, if you’re a lover of LUSH’s Karma (I am! I reviewed the solid perfume here), you’ll love the soap. It’s highly fragrant at initial lather but becomes mellow while scenting the skin with that lovely spicy concoction of patchouli, lavender and pine. And it’s a vegan dragon soap too that will be make a perfect gift for your beauty lovin’ vegan guys and girls.

Ah yes, that’s another thing. I find the Karma fragrance to be fitting for men and women. Because of its spiciness, it can easily work for girly girls, manly men and everyone else in between. How thoughtful of you, LUSH. You can snag this at LUSH locations and online.

Some Chinese New Year facts:
-Considering many Asian cultures celebrate it, Chinese New Year is commonly called Lunar New Year.
-The Chinese year is based off of the cycles of the moon.
-2012 is the year of the dragon
-In anticipation for the Chinese New Year, many families thoroughly clean their homes. Metaphorically speaking this is to get rid of the previous year’s bad luck to make space for the new year’s good luck.
-Red is considered a lucky color in China.(source)

I’m not gonna lie, yo. I wish it would get a little cooler in Orlando. As I type this, I am lounging on my patio as a breeze cools the 83 degree temps. I know, I know. I should be grateful. I could be shoveling snow. But come on! It’s the holiday season and who could blame a gal for wanting to have a bit of a chill? *pouts*

Anywhoovers, so we all know how much I love Boscia’s Clarifying Detox mask. I’ve been using it religiously for a good two months now. I also managed to get myself on the highly coveted Luminizing Black Mask. I’ve been wanting to try this mask since I laid eyes on it last year.

Shout out to being able to do facials at home! Now I’ve tried all kinds of masks, y’all. But I have yet to try a black one.

I just knew it would be fantastical. I mean, seriously…can Boscia do any wrong? Not in my book.

Like all Boscia products, this mask is without parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances and dyes and phthalates. If you find that your skin is super sensitive to most masks, I recommend giving this one a try as it gentle enough not irritate your skin but powerful enough to draw yucky stuff out of those clogged pores. I love how this mask doesn’t sting. I can appreciate the “stinging” effect in some masks but most times, I don’t want to feel that kind of sensation. In fact, I love when I forget that a mask is on. This baby is so comfortable that I accidentally went to sleep with it on.

Crazy, right? I woke up in my morning and felt it lifting from the sides and after a few tugs, it gently peeled away from my face. I was left with smooth skin. So smooth that I didn’t even feel the need to put on a moisturizer. Niiiice!

Pro’s

-It’s fragrance-free.
-Feels cool to the touch and is easy to apply.
-Removes easily.

Con’s

-Is a little on the pricey side at $34.
-Can be a wee bit messy.
-Takes some time to dry. This isn’t a 5-minute mask.

If you’re in the market for it, I would definitely check this mask out. It’s the perfect weekly pick me up for your skin. Especially if the winter weather has your skin a little weary.

Not that I can relate or anything. Pfft. You can grab this baby at Sephora stores or at Sephora.com.

Soooo, I’m back with another St. Ives product that I can’t believe I’ve never tried. I thought I had given just about ALL of St. Ives products a spin buuuut I guess not. Have you seen this baby in stores?

Retailing for a little less than $4, this gentle cleanser also doubles as a makeup remover.

I am always skeptical of such gimmicks. After all, I’m a beauty blogger and skepticism is one of my finest traits. A cleanser that promises to not only cleanse the skin AND remove makeup must be good enough to cleanse thoroughly as well as remove making without drying out the skin. It’s the kind of product that will only work for guys and gals with certain skin types. The consistency of the cleanser is like a lotion.

In fact, it looks and feels exactly like lotion. But if you were to rub it in your skin, it wouldn’t sink in as effortlessly as lotion does. When rubbed together a bit, it because slightly frothy and creamier. And I do mean slightly.

When thrown on the face and mixed with water, it still feels just like a lotion. It took a ton of rubbing in for me to “feel” like I was cleansing my skin. You know, because, like many, I’m used to cleansers foaming up. But despite the foams and bubbles, I felt like the cleanser really did its job. My skin felt clean and after wiping my face on a hand towel, I didn’t see a left of leftover concealer. Score! It removed my mascara and gel liner with ease too. Eyeliner on the waterline is a bit tricky, though, because if you get it too close to your eyes, you may endure some burning. I’m okay with using a regular oil-based eye makeover remover for the hardcore eye cosmetics.

I’m thinking this cleanser is best suited for those with normal to dry skin. Because it can be a bit emollient, it may be too moisturizing for those with oily skin. I’m sold!

Sooooo, he’s going to kill me for saying it but The Guy has an insanely flaky nose that is ridden with whiteheads. But that’s not the worst part. The worst part is…he won’t let me do anything about it! He’d rather walk around with a flaky nose than have his beauty blogger of a girlfriend help him out. Men, I tell ya. He wouldn’t let me take pictures, but his nose knew no safety with me and my pack of Boscia Pore Purifying Black Strips.

If you thought I loved the Clarifying Detox mask, brace yourself because these strips are a close 2nd in “Things I Love From Boscia”. It’s been a long time since I’ve tried nose strips. I remember when they first came out. The commercials had me begging Mama Clumps to scoop up a pack of them for me. When she finally did, I wasn’t impressed. Granted I was just 14 or 15 had didn’t know WHAT I was looking for, but still…underwhelmed teenagers turn into underwhelmed beauty bloggers. It’s a been a good 10 years since I’ve tried these and I considering I absolutely LOVE Boscia, I knew I would love these.

Just as I thought, they didn’t disappoint. Sans the preservatives including parabens, sulfates and the like, the strips do a fantastic job at thoroughly removing dirt and oil from clogged pores. A box of 6 strips will run you $15, which to me, is a good price point. After all, you don’t have to use these that often. Twice a month at best.

Why yes. Yes, it is. Exceptionally clarified is a bit of an understatement though.

I felt like I had a new nose after using these strips.

Pro’s
-Strip is wide enough to fit folx of all nose shapes, lengths and widths.
-While intended for the nose, you can probably use this anywhere on your face.
-Gentle enough for whiney guys to use.
-Free of fragrances.
-Works within minutes.

Con’s
-If you don’t wet the strip before removing, it can hurt a bit.
-May not be the best product for those with extremely sensitive skin.

The Guy won’t admit it, but these dramatically improved the skin around his nose. His nosey is clearer and those white heads are like…gone. He doesn’t know it yet, but I’ll be tossing these on his face at least once a month. Even if I’ve got to hold him down.

You can grab Boscia’s Pore Purifying Black Strips at Sephora stores and on Sephora.com.

Instagram Is Love

4 days agoby clumpsofmascaraSome of y'all have your coffee and then crazy folx like me blend up spinach, an apple and an entire lemon to drink. Had one kid in my stomach craving it and a kid on the outside steal half. Righteous.

24 hours agoby clumpsofmascaraHomemade pasta with seafood bits. A bit salty but ohmigoodness, what a hearty and delicious stew-like bowl of flavors in Winter Park.

3 days agoby clumpsofmascaraGood morning, risk takers! Today I'm doing something incredibly challenging and scary. I make it a habit to push myself to the limit often. You should, too. Come on. DO IT NOW!!

5 days agoby clumpsofmascaraMy coworker goes, "I haven't bought a lipstick in a year." Oh no!!! She must not know 'bout me. Tomorrow is National Lipstick Day and I've got to get her prepared! Packing her a nice goody bag of lipsticks. I'm the same way if you visit my house. NO ONE leaves empty-handed. Beauty goodies for all!

4 days agoby clumpsofmascaraSome say red lipstick isn't professional. Oh. Really? I'll make my own rules and still get the job done.

19 hours agoby clumpsofmascara#iRepost@occmakeup : "Introducing our first look at #LipTarRTW , launching on August 14th! Left to right: Vintage, Black Metal Dahlia, Lydia, Anime & Rx! Stay tuned as we reveal the next 5 shades next week!" --- Soooo, makeup and OCC Lip Tar fans, what do we think about this new packaging? I'm kinda excited about it!

6 days agoby clumpsofmascaraBeen tackling my hurr these days. Which is a big deal because I'm usually pretty lazy. Test drove some @LovinMyTextures products and yessss, I LOVE them! Check out my review. It's in the bio. Much love to @lovettehair for my tri-color situation. ❤️

3 days agoby clumpsofmascara#iRepost@tjmaxx : "Wanted for fall: A bold new bag. - Mannnn, why can't I ever find items like this when I'm in TJ Maxx? A purple bag? I want one!!

2 days agoby clumpsofmascaraI neeeed time to myself. Marriage and parenthood did not change this. Every morning, I wake up earlier than everyone else. And just be. No demands. No rushing. I do what I want. I sip my tea and pray and read and polish my nails. Or I do nothing. It does SO much for my sanity and peace. Mamas and daddies, give it a try. - [NOTE] This likely doesn't work with newborns. Those tiny humans own every fiber of your being. Happy Friday!